01/10/2025
π§ππ ππππ₯π¬π§πππ ππ₯π¨π ππ¬βπ¦ πππ¦π§ πͺππ‘!
As a photographer, Iβve always loved a paint.
It started with Brooke Campbell and βCopabella Visageβ (found by Vicki Roycroft in France in 2003) at Sydney Royal in 2013 and Iβve always loved a paint horse in my lens.
In 2016 there was another paint that just kept popping up in my lens in the rounds and more often than not I was soon standing that horse and rider next to a jump for the Champion photo!
That horse was the little mare with a heart full of try named βGypsie Queenβ, campaigned at that time by Jess Rice-Ward. We would take many champion photos such was the ever-expanding resume these two compiled over time.
But Jess was not the first to share arena success with this incredible mare.
Jess Bonello βfound her in the bushβ and started her and ultimately jumped her to 135/ 140cm.
The two shared much success but it was time for the next little girl to experience the thrill of owning and campaigning this incredibly talented mare.
Jess Rice-Ward was introduced to riding by her Mum when she was just 2 years old.
At nine years old it was time to find her new βunicornβ and in βGypsie Queenβ that unicorn was discovered.
The two of them became a formidable partnership.
Jess was 9 years old when βGypsie Queenβ settled into the paddock and along with stable mate βKiwi Guardβ there wasnβt a State or National title that Jess didnβt win on one of them.
Jess told me βGypsieβ was just such a consistent horse.
ββWe didnβt win many big classes but she consistently won and placed at every event we entered. Iβd confidently say there wasnβt a show where she didnβt come home with a ribbonββ.
Jess added ββSheβs also been and won everywhere!ββ
ββSydney Royal, State Championships, AQUIS, Australian Championships, and she took me around the Junior Australian Championships when I was 11yo and jumped clear, she was my best friend, just exactly the way she is now with Sylvie, βGypsieβ is the best soulββ.
In 2017 Jess sold βGypsie Queenβ to Olivia Hewitt-Toms who at that time was living up in Kuranda near Cairns.
In 2018 Olivia qualified for Interschools Show Jumping at Werribee, Victoria along with her older sister Jamie so Dad (Chris) and Mum (Terry) along with their chihuahua βCharlieβ travelled 3600km south down the road for the sisters to compete.
Another lap around the country for βGypsβ!!
For the next few years Olivia and βGypsieβ campaigned very successfully around the country and won many, many more titles and ribbons.
Then in late 2023 βGypsie Queenβ moved to the Lockyer Valley, to what would become her forever home with another little girl who was beyond excited to have such a superstar mare to call her own and the bond between the two was evident from day one.
A 9yo Sylvie Rudder rode her first competition round on βGypsie Queenβ on the 13th January 2024
No fairytale, no blue ribbon but a completed first round. Everybody breathe!
What has happened in the time since then really just adds to the legacy of this extra-ordinary mare and is a testament to finding the right βnext ownerβ for your special horse.
At (we think) rising 23yo, βGypsey Queenβ is arguably a βschoolmaster but results donβt just turn-up with the name of a horse, youβve still got to be able to ride and all three girls up until Sylvie so far have more than proven their status as elite riders. And little Sylvie is well on her way to a big future in the sport of Show Jumping.
Quite by accident I saw the name βGypsie Queenβ on the 90cm draw at the 2025 Interschools Championships on Saturday and stayed around to watch (not photograph) the jump off.
In the interim, I heard a whisper that this was the last competition before retirement for βGypsβ, and that this amazing now 23yo mare she would retire after Sundayβs last round.
So arena side I stood, Sunday midday, for a 238.2.1 a one rounder against the clock at the 2025 Horseland Interschools Championships
Sylvie and βGypsieβ were fourth out and they came into the arena with three clear rounds under their belt over the preceding days, could they do it one more time?
And clear they went, now just seven more combinations to watch and hope the time would see them place!
And place they did!
Now just to wait and see if the aggregate scores would deliver a final ribbon before retirement for βGypsie Queenβ
Not just a ribbon, but a champion rug too!
They βretireβ as the 2025 Horseland Australian Interschool Championships Primary 90cm Show Jumping Champions having jumped 4 clear rounds over the course of the show
What a story, what a wonderful little combination.
What a fairytale brumby!
And a second rug was to follow as a member of the Champion Queensland Primary Show Jumping Team!
Enjoy your retirement βGypsβ what an incredible career
Thank you for the many, many special moments you have given your owners / riders and everyone watching on, including me through the camera, itβs been a privilege to watch you on course.
And all the best to Sylvie, sheβll have a little break from riding before her new horse βIβm A Cowboyβ currently owned and campaigned by Harriet Smith arrives for the next chapter in this young riders career, a career that is off to a wonderful start just like the little girls before her who all had a dream too.
Photos and words Stephen Mowbray
